“Miss Nydia, when I came in this morning to open the ward, I found you in the restroom. You’ve already delivered the baby…” Her voice faltered, and I knew what was coming.
Tears blurred my vision before she could finish.
“I brought you here as quickly as I could, but… the baby’s face was blue. It must’ve been deprived of oxygen for too long. It was a stillbirth.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t cry or scream. I just sat there on the hospital bed, numb.
The urge to cry was gone, as was the ability to feel sorrow. At that moment, it was as if my entire being had emptied itself. There was nothing left inside.
Two of the most important people in my life—my baby and Hadden—had disappeared from my world in a single moment.
“Miss Nydia, I haven’t told the others yet. I’ll go inform Dr. Fletcher now,” Elise said hesitantly.
“No need. Thank you, Elise,” I said quietly.
She hesitated at first, but then later sighed and left.
A while later, the obstetrician came in, concern and frustration written all over her face. “You’re a nurse. Why didn’t you come to the obstetrics ward sooner? Do you realize how dangerous this was?”